Racial disparities in US maternal health have resulted in a higher maternal mortality rate for Black women, despite the nation's substantial healthcare spending.

Contributing factors to these disparities include social determinants of health, structural racism, provider bias, and mistreatment within the healthcare system.

There is a pressing need for systemic changes in healthcare provider training to improve trust, safety, and equity in maternal health care.

Strategies to improve maternal health for Black women involve recognizing diverse social identities, prioritizing emotional health, and addressing healthcare provider biases.

Increasing the number of Black healthcare providers is essential for delivering racially concordant care and building patient trust, which is key to better health outcomes.

Community-based care models, such as home visits by certified midwives and targeted health campaigns, are effective in closing healthcare gaps and enhancing health literacy.

Healthcare policy reform, including extending Medicaid for postpartum care, is vital to support comprehensive, community-centered maternal care.

Organizations with political clout must advocate for increased diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility in healthcare policies.